HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 35, 5 November 1918, Page 4

HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE

The Minister of /Defence (Sir James Allen) well deserved the enthusiastic reception which was accorded to him at the'meeting held 1 in the Town Hall yesterday to celebrate the surrender of Austria. The debt we owe to the men who have fought and died for us is too' great to be compared with the services rendered by any who have remained at home. But a vast amount of necessary war work has had to be done in New Zealand, and those who have done it deserve our gratitude. Sir James Allen has done his full share of this most important preliminary work. We arc all gratefully proud of the brave men who have left our shores to take part in tho crusade against the modern Hun. Our soldiers have played their part magnificently. Theyjiave done all that could reasonably be-expect-ed of them—and more. Their high courage and cheerful endurance of hardships have proved their fitness to fight shoulder to shoulder with the best troops in the'world.. Their deeds have added a glorious page to the history of New Zealand, and of the Empire. In these wonderful dayswhen the Allies are sweeping irresistibly on to final victory every New Zealander worthy of the name must be glad to think that this great little .country has never wearied or faltered, but has fulfilled all its promises and carried out all its obligations. The New Zealand 'units have always been maintained at their full strength. They have been well trained and thoroughly equipped. This has involved an enormous amount of work and thought. Tho creation of our army and the placing of it in the field has been a big task. It meant military organisation on a scale far exceeding in magnitude anything ever attempted previously in New Zealand. The success attained has been most gratifying, and a large share of the credit is undoubtedly due to the wisdom, energy, and foresight of Sir James Allen. From the beginning of the war he has held the portfolio of Minister of Defence, and in all the really essential things he has done remarkably well. He has never spared himself. He has shown a very high sense of duty and a wonderful capacity for hard work. He has had many 'very anxious moments, and has carried a big load of responsibility. He has not escaped hostile criticism. His administration has at times been subjected to strong attacks from many quarters, but on the whole it has been justified by results. When put to the test it has not been found wanting. Tho people of New Zealand have been rather slow to bestow on Sir James Allen the' full measure of credit due to him for his splendid services as Defence Minister. They now realise with increasing appreciation that whatever mistakes ho may have made in matters of secondary importance, he has on the whole proved himself to be the right man in the right place. When the history of New Zealand's part in the war comes to be writton tho record of his work will certainly be given a prominent and an honourable place.